"It hit a harbor buoy," said Matt. "At least, the captain of the port says there was a buoy at this point. As it isn't here now, it must have been demolished. It's a lucky thing for all of us that the buoy was between the Grampus and the Whitehead. Glennie and I will go back to the shore, Dick, and get a barrel of gasoline. You get the hose rigged and have everything ready to discharge the gasoline in short order. We're northward bound, and are going to get away from these waters just as quick as the nation will let us."
There was something of a disappointment in this for the men on the submarine. They had hoped for a chance to stretch their legs ashore, but they appreciated the necessity of getting the Grampus out of harm's way as quickly as possible.
"Won't the Pom lay for us as we pull out of the bay, Matt?" asked Dick.
"She can't lay for us. You see, she had only two torpedoes. One of those was destroyed in the attack made on the Grampus in the bay; the other one the Pom is dragging off to some place where she can get it in shape for work. We need not fear any attack from the Sons of the Rising Sun until the other Whitehead is ready for use. If we act quickly, we can get well away from the Pom before she becomes dangerous."
"Diable!" rasped out Captain Pons. "Is it ze American vay to r-run from ze enemy? Pur-r-r-soo and capture, zat is ze sing. I will go wiz you, oui, I, myself, Captain Pons. You will help me get back ze Pom. Eh?"
"We're not here to take any risks with the Grampus, captain," said Matt. "Responsibility for the safety of the boat rests on my shoulders, and you'll have to get some Chilian war ship to help you."
"Zat is not right!" cried the captain. "One mariner is in ze duty bound to help anozzer mariner in ze distress. Me, I call on you. You refuse, zen zat is mos' contemptible."
"I'm sorry you look at it in that way, captain," replied Matt; "but it's just possible I know my own business better than you do."
Captain Pons had a little fit all by himself, and while he had it he was saying unpleasant things.